Diving masks



Aug. '22, 1967 F. GATTI E -L DIVING MASKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.10, 1964 lNVENTORS Fernando Gufli 8| Ettore Dg Borbieri by Sparrow 0ndSparrow ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 22, 1967 F. GATTI ETAL DIVING MASKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10,1964 FIG.6A

INVENTORS Fernando Gufli 8| 7 Ettore De Borbieri by Sparrow and SparrowATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,336,599 DIVING MASKS Fernando Gatti, Via Cavour37, Recco, Italy, and Ettore de Barbieri, Via Solimano 7-9, SantaMargherita, Italy Filed Dec. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 417,272 7 Claims. (Cl.214) This invention relates to diving masks, and particularly to adiving mask provided with a single sight-glass which is fixed by meansof a suitable quick-coupling frame, and with a selectively or optionallyusable exhalation valve.

In recent years the use of diving masks for sub-water observation hasconsiderably increased, and this has obviously led to an increase ofrequirements from users, many of whom are fond of sub-water fishing,which requires improved masks, perfectly suitable for this particularuse. On the other side, commercial reasons have led to improvements inthe shape, colour and aspect of masks, as well as to the features thatcan facilitate their rapid production on an industrial scale. As to theuse thereof, improvements have been devised to attain an easy andefficient water-tight mating on the face of the user, to improve thefixing of the transparent sight-glass on the rubber or palstic body ofthe mask, to provide the mask with a special, selectively usableexhalation valve, and to facilitate the replacement of the sight-glassby virtue of a particular quick-coupling frame that is locked by anouter ring or strap that is joined by a device free of projections andof screws such as the one disclosed in the US. Patent No. 3,141,208registered on July 21, 1964, invented by Giuseppe Stradella and entitledLocking Device for Pressure Ring. As to the appearance, and in order toobtain a distinctiveness with respect to the existing products on themarket, said particular frame for fastening the sightglass, being madepartly projecting outwardly with respect to the coupling edge of themask, and therefore well visible from outside, can be used to obtain avery pleasant ensemble of colours, also because the frame straddles theI nose and has, therefore, a wide central shaped portion that isnecessary in order to have the sight-glass very close to the eyes, so asto widen the View.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown, as a non-limitingexample, in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the mask according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the frame surrounding the sight-glass;

FIG. 5A is a cross section of the frame of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a closure frame complementing theframe of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6A is a cross section of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of the assemblycomprising the frame, the closure frame and the transparent sight-glassafter the regular assembling thereof without any sealing compound.

As clearly shown in the several views, the mask according to theinvention comprises generally a suitably shaped body 1, of a rather softrubber composition, plastic material or any other suitable material,provided on its front side with a shaped, channelled edge 2 adapted toreceive the framing means 3 having the transparent sight-glass 4 lockedtherein. The body 1, seen on its front side, is of elliptic form and hasa suitably shaped lower portion 5 to receive the nose. The bottom ofthis portion has a cup-shaped recess 7 wherein a diaphragm-operatedexhalation valve 8 can be snap-introduced. Inasmuch as the use of thisvalve is optional, depending upon the diving technique of the user, thebottom of the circular recess 7 has a set of hollow projections 7 that,if desired, can be cut 3,336,599 Patented Aug; 22, 1967 by means ofscissors, so that the valve 8 can be connected to the outside.

The edge 6 defining on the rear of the body of the mask and designed tocorrectly mate on the face, that is on the front, temples and betweenthe mouth and the nose, is finely tapered so as to be extremely flexibleand adaptable. A laminate projecting flap 9 is adjacent to the innerside of the rim 6, which flap is adapted to co-oper-ate in attaining thewatertight mating on the face.

In order to fasten the transparent sight-glass, which for safety reasonsis of toughtened nature, this invention provides framing means 3 havingseveral features that are clearly shown in FIGS. 5, 5A, 6, 6A and 7.Frame 3 (FIG. 5) is of molded semi-rigid plastic; its profile permits aneasy embedding of the sight-glass 4, which is disposed in the seattherefor after arranging therein a soft sealing packing 10. A suitablyshaped closure frame 11 (FIG. 6) is provided for locking the sight-glassin its correct position, and has a plurality of holes 12 whereinsuitable studs or pins 13 integral with frame 3- project. When members 3and 11 are assembled, the projecting ends of pins 13 are pressed andriveted by means of a suitable hot tool, so as to obtain a perfectpressed conjunction. This arrangement provides a perfect framing aroundthe glass, which is important inasmuch as a sight glass has seldom aneat and smooth contour. The plastic framing means 3 has a shaped lowerportion adapted to straddle the nose, which makes possible to have thesight glass 4 very close to the eyes, so as to ensure a very wideangular view. In the lower portion of the framing means 3 there is aprojecting reference and engagement pin 15 designed to be introducedinto a suitable seat formed along the inner side of the grooved edge 2of the mask body. By virtue of this pin, the proper assembling of theframe 3 with sightglass 4 is greatly facilitated. Moreover, the free endof pin 15 being provided with a slight enlargement that is adapted topositively engage as a hook in the seat therefor, said pin functionsalso as a tension member to properly 'hold the edge 2. The shapedmerging portion of the framing means 3, which is designed to straddlethe nose, is clearly visible on the front side and, therefore, if moldedwith a material of a different colour with respect to the colour of themask body, this can be advantageous to obtain a twocolour assembly thatgives the mask a better appearance and, moreover, enables theconstruction of masks having, for example, the distinctive colours of asporting association or the like.

For the pressure-tight final locking of the framing means 3 on the maskbody, we provide a conventional quick coupling metal outer ring 14,preferably of stainless steel. This ring, however, according to thepreviously mentioned patent, has a special quick-junction deviceeliminating the usual tightening screws or other auxiliary means,whereby such a ring is free from projections, which is important in thisfield. A

As to the framing means 3, it is to be noted that it has also theadvantage of eliminating the use of any cement or jointing compound forfixing the transparent sight-glass, which is very important for a quickassembling in the mass-production of masks. In case the sight-glassbreaks, it can be replaced very quickly, inasmuch as it is possible touse a new frame having a regularly mounted sight-glass, which can becommercially bought as a replacement part marketed by the maker of themask.

The two outer sides of the mask-body are provided with conventionalmeans enabling the controllable engagement of the elastic belt forfixing the mask on the head of the user.

Obviously, changes and modifications can be made to the invention hereinshown and described, all falling Within the scope of the basicprinciples of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a diving mask having a body consiting of rubber or the likeflexible material, said body having a front side and a rear edge, asingle transparent flat sight glass, a quick-coupling ring sealinglylocking said body around said sight glass, an an exhalation valve on thelower portion of said body: a channelled edge on said front side of saidbody, framing means disposed between said channelled edge and said sightglass, said framing means consisting substantially of a relatively rigidplastic material, a closure frame fitted on said framing means, and asealing packing between said framing means and said sight glass, saidclosure frame locking said sight glass in said framing means, saidframing means further constituting a stiffening member of said mask.

2. In a diving mask according to claim 1, said framing means furtherhaving a profile section, said profile arranged for embedding the entirethickness of said sight glass and of said sealing packing therein, firstpins projecting from the inner side of said framing means, said firstpins forming integral parts of said framing means, and said first pinshaving free ends for hot pressing and riveting said framing means andsaid closure frame together for pressure locking said sight glasses andsaid sealing packing at assembly.

3. In a diving mask according to claim 2, and said framing means havingat least one projecting second pin on the lower peripheral portionthereon, and said channelled edge having at least one cavity fittingover said second pin for holding said frame and said sight glass inproper relationship with one another.

4. In a diving mask according to claim 3-, and said second projectingpin having an enlarged free end, said enlarged end providing a positiveengagement of said second pin with said edge portion of said body.

5. In a diving mask according to claim 1, and a cupshaped seat locatedin said lower portion of said body, said exhalation valve snap-fitted insaid seat, and said seat having a projection thereon, said projectionnormally sealing said valve.

6. In a diving mask according to claim 5, and said rear edge of saidflexible body having a first very thin tapered section and a second thinedge adjacent the inner side of said rear edge, said first and secondthin edge adapted for cooperating with one another for achieving a tightsealing elfect of said diving mask body on the face of the user with asubstantially low pressure.

7. In a diving mask according to claim 1, and said framing means havingat least one projecting second pin on the lower peripheral portionthereon, and said channelled edge having at least one cavity fittingover said second pin for holding said frame and said sight glass inproper relationship with one another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,881 11/1947 Lehmberg 214.42,835,250 5/1958 Austin l28l41 2,895,138 7/ 1959 Miller 214.1 2,952,8529/1960 Corey Z14.1 3,141,208 7/1964 Stradella 2420 3,186,005 6/1965Gentile 214.1 X

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

I. R. BOLER, Examiner.

1. IN A DIVING MASK HAVING A BODY CONSISTING OF RUBBER OF THE LIKEFLEXIBLE MATERIAL, SAID BODY HAVING A FRONT SIDE AND A REAR EDGE, ASINGLE TRANSPARENT FLAT SIGHT GLASS, A QUICK-COUPLING RING SEALINGLYLOCKING SAID BODY AROUND SAID SIGHT GLASS, AN AN EXHALATION VALVE ON THELOWER PORTION OF SAID BODY: A CHANNELLED EDGE ON SAID FRONT SIDE OF SAIDBODY, FRAMING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHANNELLED EDGE AND SAID SIGHTGLASS, SAID FRAMING MEANS CONSISTING SUBSTANTIALLY OF A RELATIVELY RIGIDPLASTIC MATERIAL, A CLOSURE FRAME FITTED ON SAID FRAMING MEANS, AND ASEALING PACKING BETWEEN SAID FRAMING MEANS AND SAID SIGHT GLASS, SAIDCLOSURE FRAME LOCKING SAID SIGHT GLASS IN SAID FRAMING MEANS, SAIDFRAMING MEANS FURTHER CONSTITUTING A STIFFENING MEMBER OF SAID MASK.